Weis Grocery Prepares for Sunday's Opening

If shoppers had been able to get their groceries at the new Weis grocery store, in the Hillsborough Promenade, during Thursday's downpours, they could have taken advantage of the store's curb service—where clerks will take groceries to the car.

But the store won't open until 6 a.m. Sunday, when shoppers will be able to get their first looks and tastes of the store's specialties—breads and cakes, chopped fruit, sushi and sausage—all made at the store.

And sample the store's service, which store Manager Guss Gaber said will "supercede (shoppers') expectations."

"It's about the customer," Gaber said.

To that end, the Hillsborough store includes an expanded produce section with about 700 varieties of vegetables, fruits and berries—including more organic and natural foods.

"We're going larger with organics and natural foods to coincide with the community's expectations," Gaber said.

Meeting local buyers' expectations was a common refrain throughout the store—the Hillsborough location has a larger international and fresh cheese section, and has been set-up to maximize energy savings wherever possible.

The 24-hour store will have automatic switches in freezer cases to shut off lights when no customers are by, and the dairy items are behind glass to reduce energy waste.

"This store will use 50 percent less energy for its freezers and refrigerators than the typical grocery store," Weis spokesman Dennis Curtin said. He added the sore expects to have an EPA "Greenchill" certification for its efficient refrigeration systems after establishing the records needed to qualify for the government program.

Weis has about 165 locations in operation, with several special offerings that have proven popular—such as the gourmet burger meat, freshly ground at the store with seasoning and flavorings added in.

"You can grab it, toss it on the grill and in a few minutes, you have a hell of a meal," Gaber said. That is if you choose to cook dinner yourself— the seafood department will steam or fry selections for customers, and the hot foods department will offer chicken, pizza and more, ready to go.

Another popular attraction are the chain's regular three-day lobster sales—Hillsborough shoppers will witness their first over the Labor Day weekend when the store will have live lobster for $5.99 per pound (and let them steam the lobsters for you).
 
And in between the produce at the front and the dairy in the back, the store's shelves contain nearly 60,000 items for customers.

"People seem to be with us," Grocery Manager Anthony Caggiano said. "Once they get here, they'll stay here—that's for sure."

Caggiano has it relatively easy at this point—his department is all but ready to go, but with freshness being so critical, the meats, produce, bakery, deli, seafood and hot foods departments still have bare shelves that will be covered before the opening.

Gaber said that's to ensure the product's freshness.

"The excitement builds before the opening," he said.